Washing-machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. G. CRAWFORD. WASHING MACHINE.

No. 522,970. Patented July 17, 1 3

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J. G. CRAWFORD. WASHING MAGHINB.

No. 522,970. Patented July 17,- 1894.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. G. CRAWFORD. WASHING MACHINE.

Patented July 17, 1894.

(N6 Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. J. G. CRAWFORD.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 522,970. Patented July 17, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. CRAWFORD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CRAWFORDLAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

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WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 522,970, dated July 17,1894. Application filed July '7, 1893- Serial No. 479,816. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Lines G. CRAWFORD, of Boston ,(Char1estown,) in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the followingis aspecification.

This invention relates to washing machines commonly used in laundrywork, in which a rotating cylinder is arranged within a fixed cylinderand adapted to be rotated in opposite directions by suitable reversingmechanism.

The invention has for its object to provide improved means forconducting steam and water into the rotary cylinder, and certainimprovements in the construction of the cylinders, all of which will befully described hereinafter.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification: Figure1 shows a' front elevation of the machine, representing the door of theouter cylinder open, and the door' of one of the compartments of therotary cylinder open. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of thecylinders. Figs. 3 and 4 show cross-sections on lines 3-3 and 44 of Fig.2. Fig. 5 shows an elevation of one end of the machine, looking from theleft of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 shows an elevation of the opposite end. Fig. 7shows a sectional detail of a lock for holding the outer cylinder fixed.Fig. 8 shows an enlarged section of the bearing for the end of the outercylinder where the water and steam pipes enter. Fig. 9 shows a detail ofthe said bearing, in elevation. Fig. 10 shows a plan view of a portionof the outer cylinder, illustrative of a latch for holding the dooropen.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In the drawings: the letter a designates the supporting-frame, b theoutside cylinder, and c the rotating cylinder or washer.

The outside cylinder 1) is adapted to be rotated independently of theinside cylinder, and has an opening in its periphery, adapted to beclosed by asliding door m. When the cylinderc is to be charged oremptied, the outside cylinder is rotated sufilciently to bring theopening therein to the position represented in Fig. 1, so that the door77. of the cylinder 0 can be opened and swung downwardly. In thisposition, the compartment 2 may be charged or emptied, as the case maybe, afterwhich the cylinder 0 may be turned to bring anothercompartmentto the opening, until all the compartments are treated ordisposed of.

The inside cylinder 0 is rotated by means of a gear-wheel h affixed toits journal at one end on the exterior of the cylinder 17, and said gearhas marks at four equidistant points, as seen in Fig. 6, and an arrow isinscribed on the head of the outside cylinder. By this means, theposition of each compartment of the inside cylinder with relation to theoutside cylinder may be determined without opening the latter, so thatthe door of each inner compartment may be brought to the proper positionfor filling or discharging before opening the door of the outsidecylinder, this being determined by registering a mark on the gear h withthe arrow on the head of the outside cylinder.

The compartments of the inside cylinder are numbered, and a black-boarda: atfixed to the door 11?. is divided into a corresponding number ofspaces, which are correspondingly designated. The lot of clothes incompartment No. 1 is entered on space No. l of the black-board, and thecontents of the other compartments are likewise indicated, and in thisway the attendant may keep track of the clothes in the washer.

The main-shaft '6' passes directly through the central portion of thecylinders, and the washer-cylinder c is secured to said shaft by meansof spiders t t, secured to the shaft and to the heads of the cylinder 0(see dotted lines in Fig. 3), said spiders having hubs u" secured to theshaft 2". This construction is simple and durable, and preventsliability of the inner cylinder being loosened by the twisting strain towhich it is subjected.

To prevent contact of the material which is being washed with the shaft,I surround the latter with an imperforate casing or sleeve, consistingpreferably of a brass tube a, se cured between the cylinder heads 2; oin such manner as to secure a tight joint and prevent corrosion of theshaft.

The washing-cylinder c is subdivided into compartments 1, 2, 3, 4, by acentral partition w extending crosswise of the cylinder and dividing thelatter into two sections, and by partitions 'y 3' extending lengthwiseof the cylinder and arranged at right angles to each other, so that fourcompartments are provided. The advantage of the described arrangement ofthe partitions 11 L1 is tha.,as the cylinder revolves and the contentsare carried around and up to the point where they fall, the material inone compartment is balanced by the material in an opposite one,lso thatthe intermittent strain upon the driving mechanism is avoided, and themachine rendered more durable.

As already indicated, the outside cylinder is stationary during thewashing operation, and is adapted to be rotated on its bearings by hand,for the purpose of bringing the discharge opening (which, during thewashing operation, is at the upper side) to the position shown in Fig.1, for convenience in removing or inserting the contents. To facilitatethis operation, a gear to is fastened to the cylinder-head, andconnected by a chain to with a smaller gear n1 mounted on a shaft tewhich is supported in a bearing w on the frame a. and carries a crank 10on its outer end. As a means for locking the cylinder 1), I employ abolt 00', arranged to slide in guides on the bearing 10 and be projectedinto a hole in the gear ta the arrangement being such that, when thecylinder is rotated to bring the bolt into alignment with the hole, theopening in the cylinder is brought to the desired point for charging oremptying the washer o.

The water and steam used in the Washing operation are introduced intothe cylinder by improved means, which I will now describe.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the outside cylinder is,supported in position by the main-shaft, the head 6" of the cylinderbearing directly thereon, while the head f bears upon a collar or hub g"formed integrally with the cap it", which secures the V shaft 71' in itsbearing 2'", formed upon the supporting-frame a, to which bearing thecapportion of the hub g is suitably secured by bolts in the usualmanner. The hub is held by the cap in a fixed position, the lower halfof the hub being provided with integral tubular passages, as shown inFigs. 2 and 8, the inner ends of which are turned downwardly for theinsertion of pipes for the introduction of steam and water to thecylinder, as shown. The pipes lo intended for heating the supply ofwater by introduction of steam, are

extended downwardly from the inside of the hub, so that their bottomends will be beneath I the surface of the water-supply in the cylinder,as shown in Fig. 2.

The outer cylinder is preferably provided with a yielding buffer @0which, when the cylinder is turned in the direction indicated by thearrow 1.0 in Fig. 6, strikes the supporting-frame and prevents furtherrotation of the cylinder in the same direction. The cylinder has aweight 10 on its periphery arranged to normally hold the cylinder withits door at the top. The buffer 10 by striking the frame limits themovement of the cylinder under influence of the weight. The door mslides in ways m on the cylinder, and the following means are employedto hold it open: A horizontal rod y is mounted upon it, and may serve asa handle, and a spring-latch @1 is fastened at one end to theOYIlIldBlItIld at its opposite end has a catch @0 to take over the saidrod y and hold the door open. Said spring has a laterally-projecting arm3 fastened to it, and a trip y, pivoted on the rod g, has a curved partadapted to extend under said lateral arm. When it is desired to releasethe door, the trip is pulled downward, which causes it to raise thespring y and disengage the catch w from the bar y. When the door isopened, the rod y rides under the catch, and the latter springs over it.The trip has an opening a adapted to receive a hook, whereby it may betilted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder, the shaftextending through both cylinders and having the inner cylinder fixed toturn therewith, fixed bearings for said shaft outside of the cylinders,the hub or ring affixed to one of said bearings and surrounding theshaft and supporting one head of the outer cylinder, the lower part ofsaid hub having orifices, and pipes extending through said orifices andinto the cylinder where they turn downward, as set forth.

2. The hub or ring 9" having on its upper portion an arm formed as ahalf hearing or bearing-cap and provided with integral tubular passagesin its lower portion, said passages being screwthreaded for theconnection thereto of liquid-conducting pipes, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a washing machine, an exterior cylinder having a side opening, asliding door over said opening, a rod fastened to said door, aspring-latch fastened to the cylinder and adapted to engage the said rodwhen the door is open, and a trip pivoted on the rod and adapted todisengage the latch from the bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 16th day of June, A; D.1893.

JAMES G. CRAWFORD.

Witnesses:

